# Are some chinese restaurant names jokes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618 "2005-09-27T03:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/21 "2005-09-27T09:45:08Z")
There are any number called \*\* Lee Ho Fook \*\* or similar. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/22 "2005-09-27T10:39:19Z")
There is a chinese resturant in San Luis Obispo, CA called **Mee Hung Lo**. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/23 "2005-09-27T11:15:34Z")
You sure it isn’t Mee **Heng** Lo? ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/24 "2005-09-27T12:01:47Z")
There is a Thai restaurant called Thai Tanic on 14th street in Washington DC. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/25 "2005-09-27T12:03:01Z")
Around here, there used to be a Chinese restaurant named King of Kings. Where would Jesus eat? ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/26 "2005-09-27T13:17:58Z")
> [@SaintCad](#): > > There is a Thai place near where I used to live called Poo Ping Palace. > Needless to say I never ate there. Was that, maybe, in Glendale, CA? There’s one there, but I thought it was a Chinese, not necessarily a Thai, establishment. Then again, I usually don’t eat where Thai is required. In Georgetown, D.C., many years ago, I ate at Madame Chao’s. The apostrophe I just put into the name, however, did not exist on their sign. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/27 "2005-09-27T13:32:42Z")
Hung Fat, just oustide Philadelphia (USA) Since this thread has completely broken down: A chinese restaurant owner and his hard working wife were finally in bed. He was in the mood, so he rolled over and said, “Hey, Honey, how about some 69?” She said, “What! You want beef & broccoli now?!” ---
**Author:** ![glilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/48db29/32.png) [@glilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glilly)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/28 "2005-09-27T13:35:23Z")
In the St. Louis area there is (was?) an **Eat First Garden**. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/29 "2005-09-27T15:59:26Z")
It’s safe to say the Chinese to-go place called **Ho Lee Chow** was intended to be a joke. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/30 "2005-09-27T16:04:28Z")
I like the Simpsons’ _Madame Chao’s_. A pho restaurant in Sydney has a slogan “so pho so good”, but Sydney’s biggest punny restaurant names are the Thai ones: Thai Tanic, Thai Foon, Thai Me Up, etc. One that never made it was a seafood restaurant in the Blue Mountains that was nearly called _Salmon On The Mount_. We also have _Wok Pool_. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/31 "2005-09-27T16:24:06Z")
There was (is?) a Fu King Buffet in Fredericksburg, VA. I couldn’t help but laugh every time I drove by. So just like many other businesses, Chinese restaurants will use a punish Name to increase business. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/32 "2005-09-27T16:26:42Z")
Around here we used to have the Beau Thai. I go by the Yum Mee Chinese Restaurant occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/33 "2005-09-27T16:39:56Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > Ah Lee? > > Let me be the first, in this thread at least, to mention [Fu King](http://www.yrbmusic.com/images/update070104/fuking.jpg). Not the only one: [Foo King](http://fff.fathom.org/pages/taojones/Fook%20King.jpg) Used to be on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/34 "2005-09-27T16:48:14Z")
Since I know Chinese, I can tell you that the English names of Chinese restaurants do indeed translate phonetically to the Chinese characters, for the most part. This is almost surely true for establishments actually run by Chinese owners. They just don’t know how the English names can be interpreted. For example, the Chinese character that phonetically translates to “Fook” means prosperity or good fortune, not that other meaning that some people think of. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/35 "2005-09-27T17:02:43Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > There’s a place (apparently part of a chain) near my apartment called Wok & Go. Not particularly funny, until you read the sign closely: > > “I know, it’s only Wok & Go but I like it.” > > AWFUL. I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/36 "2005-09-27T17:15:55Z")
> [@Little Bird](#): > > I don’t get it. there’s a Rolling Stones song from '74 or so that goes “I know it’s only Rock’n’Roll, but I like it!” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/37 "2005-09-27T17:23:48Z")
There was a Japanese restaurant here in Nashville called the Kitsune. The joke is, in Japan, Kitsune are fox spirits–bad luck. I don’t know if the owners weren’t really Japanese, or if they were jinxing the diners. Place went belly-up, more than once. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/38 "2005-09-27T17:40:59Z")
Not a Chinese resteraunt but a knitwear factory near where I used to work, **Tin Lung** ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/39 "2005-09-27T17:49:45Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > There was a Japanese restaurant here in Nashville called the Kitsune. > > The joke is, in Japan, Kitsune are fox spirits–bad luck. > > I don’t know if the owners weren’t really Japanese, or if they were jinxing the diners. > Place went belly-up, more than once. There is a good vegitarian soup called Kitsune Udon, maybe they just specialised in that. (Apparently Kitsune - Fox Spirits - love Tofu, and love Tofu soup) ---
**Author:** ![GillianBoardman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc79bd/32.png) [@GillianBoardman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GillianBoardman)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/40 "2005-09-27T18:03:51Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > Ah Lee? > > Let me be the first, in this thread at least, to mention [Fu King](http://www.yrbmusic.com/images/update070104/fuking.jpg). In Greensburg, PA there used to be a chinese place called Fu Kwei Palace, but of course all the locals called it the F\*\*\* You Palace. They have since changed their name. I’ve moved away from there, and don’t remember the new name, but I’m sure I never would have used it anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618.md?page=3)